Simple, Suffering, Sin, Separated, Siblings, Song

Hello dear friends.

So much on my mind today, as every day. There are few settings in which I can manage to empty my mind, particularly these days. Here are some thoughts from today:

To paraphrase Renee, the inspiration for To Write Love on Her Arms, just because something is simple does not mean that it is easy. Love God and love people. Simple, yes? Trust God and choose truth over lies. Another simple pairing.

While at data entry listened to a lyric from MercyMe that said, "Why write the script with so much heartache and pain? Could there not have been an easier way?" Gosh, I think this often when I hear people's stories. I know that suffering is meant to draw people to God, to sanctify. It is also an inevitable consequence of our depravity. Consider how much Christ had to suffer on our behalf. Still, even though I marvel at God's grace in keeping people safe (for example, with the way people drive, there should be many more car accidents), I ask Him why He does not do more. Yes, I know He sent His Son to save the world, but couldn't He put force fields around children, for example?

So when I heard this lyric, my mind started going down this old train of thought: life is full of pain! Even with free will, why does God allow the innocent to suffer to such a great extent? And a soft voice reminded me that sin is sin. Every time I chose my way over God's, the world is not as it should be. I cause pain. Sometimes innocent people suffer. Being rude to my mother is a far cry from chopping off people's limbs or molesting a child. Yet, it is the same root of selfishness and pride claiming that what I want is more important than what God wants. Gosh. I still want God to intervene and stop humanitarian tragedies, but this was another reminder that my role is not to save the world. It is to choose God.

Also during data entry (which weirdly enough tends to be an emotional time), I listened to some sermons on 1 Thessalonians by Alistair Beggs that Aimee lent me. He talked about Paul's longing to visit the church in Thessalonica. After lack of word from the church, Paul sacrificed the presence of Timothy in Athens "when we could no longer endure it"and sent Timothy to find out how they were doing. According to Alistair Beggs (one just has to have the pleasure of saying his whole name), "It's one thing to be separated by your loved ones by a vast distance and over a period of time so long as there is information filtering in. But when you're a long way away for a long period of time getting no news at all, you will be filled--if there is any love relationship there--with simply an intense longing. ... Separated from those who we love by distance and by time, lacking in immediate news, the only right response is unbearable suspense." Gee, it was kind of him to validate my experience, but couldn't he have recommended a cure other than sending Timothy?

Of all my siblings, I think I am the most even blend of our parents. (We may have more insight as Jeremy matures.) Isn't this interesting, as I am the oldest? Should my parents have not had anymore children, they still would have had a pretty good idea of a mini Jamey + Lynne. One of the cool things about having five million children would be to see all the variations.

This is a fun song I listened to today, though it gets annoying after awhile. You have my permission to skip to 3.43 for the good part.

Yesterday I...

...ate yummy turkey at a church "potblessing."
...read and ruminated.
...straightened my hair, since it had been 2 years and 1 weeks since the last occurrence.
...sang hymns with my parents and Beth at the convalescent home.
...conversed with Deanna at Starbucks until the Sketcher settled into his corner and started his hobby. Uncomfortable, but not creepy.
...ate Thai food leftovers. I love bamboo shoots!
...research Masters in Public Administration and dreamed of receiving a Fulbright scholarship.

As part of my day of rest

Yellow sink and gray/blue walls. Mirror. Hurricane lamps.

Birds cut from contact paper in church hallway, compliments of pastor's wife.

Green cabinets. Little corner shelf with glass. Wallpapered ceiling (minus the design)

Mismatched black chairs. Green bowl.


Hi friends! Much has been percolating in this overactive brain of mine, but today I bring you contributions from others. First, some pictures I have culled from design blogs. Their titles represent why I have saved them. I know you're supposed to credit the source, but I never intended to republish, so I have to apologize for that. Second, some interesting thoughts about the relativity of wealth from this blog called "Out of Poverty: What to do when traditional approaches fail."

²⁴ “The LORD bless you and keep you;
²⁵ The LORD make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
²⁶ The LORD lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.”’

Numbers 6:24-26

Happy Voting

Click here for a cool election day map.

Today's Encouragement

Consider what great things He has done for you.

You shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the Lord your God chastens you.

I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn your statutes. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word. * The Lord has chastened me severely, but He has not given me over to death. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy towards those who fear Him. He knows our frame. He remembers that we are dust.

1 Samuel 12:24; Deut. 8:2, 5; Psalm 119:75, 71, 67; Psalm 118:8; Psalm 103:10-11, 14